Protecting device for latch parts



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s T R A P w uw RLw ER G02. MP2 IE TCL TIC V OMG Td. I .Ge Nl T..l TF C ET O R P July 10, 1923.

Snowdon 21781;

Leon @ZZ Patented July 10, 1923.

UNITED STATES LEON OT'IINGER, OF NEW YORK, N'. Y.

PROTECTING DEVICE FOR LATCH PARTS.

Application led October 22, 1920. Serial No. 418,706.

` To all w hom it may concern Be it known that I, LEON OTTINGER, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, inthe county and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Protecting Devices for Latch Parts, of which thefollowing is a description.

This invention relates-to an improved protecting means for latch partsand generically considered contemplates the provision of a simplyconstructed device for application to the exposed part of a latch whichhas been' applied to a door so as to permit of the proper painting orvarnishing of the door while preventing the collection of the paint orvarnish upon parts ofthe latch.

It is the primary object and purpose of the present invention to provideadevice for the above purpose whichl may be inexpensively produced inlblank form by cutting or stamping a metal sheet, and then subsequentlybending and 4shaping the blank for proper application to the latch part.

ore specifically, I propose to provide a detachable protecting device ofthis character having means to frictionally co-act with the latchpartthereby and hold the device against accidental displacement and insurethe complete protection of all surfaces of the latch part upon which thepaint or varnish would be liable to collect.

With the above and otherobjects in view,

the invention consists in the improved form' and construction of theprotecting device as will be hereinafter more fully described,illustrated -inv the accompanying drawing and subsequently incorporatedin the subjoined claims.

In the drawing wherein I have illustrated several desirable andpractical embodiments of the invention and in which similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure l is a side elevation of the edge portion of aldoor having alatch applied thereto and illustrating one embodiment of the protectorapplied to the projecting part of the latch mechanism; v

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the blank from' which the protecting deviceis formed;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the completed protector;

Figure 5 is ay perspective view illustrating another embodiment of theinvention.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the blank from which the device shown inFigure 5 is formed.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the door frameillustrating another form of the protector applied to the lug orprojection on the strike plate;

Figure 8 is a section taken on the line 66, Figure 5;

igure 9 is a similar view of the protector in its normal condition and tFigure l0 is a plan view'of the blank from which the protector shown inFigure 5 is formed.

Referring in detail to the drawing and more particularly to Figures l tol thereof,y D designates the edge portion of the door to which a latchof any suitable type is applied. In the manufacture of doors forautomobiles, in latches of the latest approved type applied to suchdoors, the several parts of the latch mechanism have very close coactingengagement and there is little or no play or lost motionvbetween theseveral parts. It has been found, that when the surfaces of such doorsare painted or varnished, the paint or varnish collects upon the exposedparts of the latch mechanism, and finds its way to the interior of thelatch casing. The coagulation of thc aint or varnish, which is of ahighly adliesive nature causes the parts of the mechanism to stick andprecludes the free operation of the latch. I-Ieretofore it has beennecessary to scrape away this coagulated paint or varnish upon the partsof the latch, and in view of the fact that access to the latch parts isquite difficult, this operation is exceedingly tedious and timeconsuming. It is therefore the purpose of my present invention toprovide means for protecting the parts of the latch which project fromthe door or frame surfaces to which the paint is to be applied so thatsuch surfaces can be quickly painted or varnished and the paint excludedfrom the latch parts, without necessitating the exercise of eX- tremecare.

To this end, I provide a protecting shield formed of sheet steel orother easily bendable material as indicated generally by the numeral 5.This shield is adapted to be engaged over the end of the latch bolt 6which projects from the edge of the door. 4As shown in Figure `3 of thedrawings the device is formed: from a blank cut or stamped out of ametal sheet, said blank including the body 7 and the wings 8 projectinglaterally from the opposite edges et said body. These wings areintegrally connected at their central portions with the body 7 et theblanl and at each side of said central portion they are slightlyseparated therefrom as at 9i, so as to be readily bendable withoutbreakage from the body 7 and toy also permit ot the bending Iot the body7 o t the shield or protector intoA the longitudinally curved torni seenin Figure 1. One relatively long end portion. 10 ot' the sheet metalblank is adapt ed to` be bentalong the dotted line` indicated at 11inFigure 3 to a position substantially at right angles to the body portion7 ol the shield. The other relatively short projecting end portion 12 otthe body 7 is adapted` to extend over and upon one of the side plates ofthe latch casing which is ilush with the tace oit the door. lt will benoted that one edge of each ot the wings S is obliquely inclined as at13 and these inclined edges oli said wings which constitute the oppositesides of the shield or protector engage closely against the transverselyinclined edge -face.` D of the. door.

In the stamping or cutting of the sheet' metal blank a longitudinallyextending spring tongue 14 is cut in each of the wings 8, said tongue atone end remainingintegral with. the wing-while the other end thereof isfree. These tongues are projected out of the plane olf the wings 8 foral purpose which will presently appear.

Alfter the sheet metal blank has been cut or stamped as seen in Figure3, the body portion 7 thereofis bent into the curved lorm shown inFigure 1 and the end portion 10i bent along the line 11 until it isdisposed in substantially parallel relation to the other end portion 12ot the body 7. The two. wings 8 are then bent inwardly and are soldered,welded or otherwise permanently cured along` their longitudinal edgesand at the'edges 9` to the contactingv edge portions oi. the shield body7 and the end 10 of thel blank. lVith the parts so arranged, the shieldor protector presents the appearance seenin F ig. t ofthe drawings, Whenthe door 1s to be painted orvarnished, this shield or protector isslipped over the projecting end portion fot the latch bolt 6 until theobliquely inclined edges 13 ot the opposite side walls of the shield areengaged with the edge face of the door, and the projecting end or iiange12 ot the body wall of the` V shield is lapped over the side oi thelatch casing. The spring tongues 11i exert a constant"resilient pressureagainst the upper and lower sides of the latch bolt 6, and serve toprevent the accidental displacement oi: the shield from its appliedposition. Paintv or varnish can new be freely applied to the ed ge taceot the door with the assurance that any excess of the paint or varnishVwill not find its way upon the surfaces of the bolt 6 or to the otherinternal parts of the latch mechanism but' will merely collect upon thewalls of the shield from which it can be readily removed. y

ln Figures 5 and 6 ot the drawing l have illustrated another embodimentof the in vention and one which for reasonsl ot simplicity and economyin manufacture, l' deem to be preferable. ln thisA construction thedevice is formed from a blank sheet ot' bendable .netal 25. This sheetis stamped or out to provide the parts 26 and 27 which respec-` tivelyconstitute the opposite sides of ythe protector. From the. medialportion of the blank obliquely inclined wings 2S extend laterally andhave their end edges disposed in parallel relationship with thelongitudinal edges of the portions 26 and 27. ln .the bending ol" theblank, as the portions 26 and 27 are bent into parallel relation to eachother, the central portion olthe blank is disposed at an obliqueinclination as indicated at 29 in Figure 5 and the side wings 28 aresimultaneously bent inwardly into parallel relation with each other andowing to the Obliquity ot these wingsthey will extend in parallelrelation between the opposed Side portions 26 and 27v and their endedges will be parallel with he inclined medial portion 29. As seen inFigure 5, the wings 28 are unconnected along their longitudinal edgeswith the portions 26and 27 so that they are capable of a resilientyielding movement. In this'construction the device is properlyproportioned in accordance with vthe dimen# sions of the latch bolt sothat it willlsnugly lit'thereover. ln tact, the wings 28 mustbe slightlydeflected outwardly from their non mal positions in order to insert `thelprotectorover the projecting` end of the latch bolt. Thus these wingstending to return to their normal positions exert a constant rictionalpressure against the latch bolt and thereby serve to positively retainthe device in its applied position and against accidental dis-jplacement, In this form of the protector, the projecting iiange 12 asabove referred to in connection with the construction first described isnot necessary as the free end edgesy of the several parts 26'` 27 and280i the protector will tightly tit against the wall-ofthe latch casing.Thus the paint may be readily applied to all o'l' the exteriorsurfaceset the casing wall and without liability of any ofy the paint collectingon the surfaces ofthe latch bolt. j j,

InfFigures 7 to 10 inclusive ofthe drawings.l l have shown another form`of the shield or protector which is designed Jfor application to the lugor projection 15 on the strike plate which is fixed'to the door frame.4is usual, this lug is' provided with an obliquely inclined face 16against which the rounded or convex end of the latch ,bolt 6 rides asthe door is moved to itsfclosed position; wIn this form of the shieldVor protector, the device is produced from the blanlr shown in Figure 8consisting ofa sheet metal plate 17 one end portion `are unconnectedalong their longitudinal edges with theportions 26 and 27 so that theyarefcapable of resilient yielding move-` ment. "In this construction thedevice is properly proportioned 1n accordance with V the dimensions ofthe latch bolt so that it will snugly fit thereover. `In fact, the wings28 must be slightly deflectedoutwardly froml their normal positionsin'`'order toinsert the protector over the:projecting` end of the `latchbolt. Thus these wings tending to return to their normal positions exerta con'-y staut frictional pressure against the latch boltand therebyserve vto positively retain the device in its applied position andagainst accidental displacement. In this form of ico the protector, theprojecting fli'ange 12 as above referred to in' connectionwith the con'-struction first described is not necessary as the free end'edges of theseveral parts 26, 27 and 28 of' the protector will tightly tit againstthe wall of the latch casing. Thus the paint may be readily applied toall of the exterior surfaces of the casing wall and without liability ofany of the paint collecting on the surfaces of the latch bolt. In viewof the fact that the edges of the several sides of the protector engagethe face of the latch casing closely adjacent to the latch bolt, it willnot be necessary to retouch the painted surface in order to fully coveror coat the same, as would be thecase if the protecting device had itswalls spaced from the surfaces of the latch bolt.

In Figures 7 to 10 inclusive of the drawings, I have shown `another formof the y shield or protector which is designed for application to thelug or projection 15 on the strike plate which is fixed to the doorframe. As is usual, this lug is provided with an obliquely inclined face16 against which the rounded or convex end of the latch bolt 6 rides asthedoor is moved to its closed poaslseen in 'Figure 9. Thus it will beapparent that when the device is applied as in Figure 7,' the flanges 2Oare sprung outwardly from their normal positions until they are at rightangles to the body plate 17 so that they exert a frictional grippingengagement against the upper and lower surfaces of the lug`15 andthereby retain the shield or protector in its applied position, Thepaint or varnish can now be readily applied to the door frame withoutliability of coating the surfaces of the strike lug 15 with which thebolt coacts.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with theaccompanying drawing, the construction and manner of use of the severalembodiments of the invention herein referred to will be clearlyunderstood. The shields or protecting devices can be easily and quicklyapplied Ato theexposed latch parts and also readily removed after theyhave served the intended purpose. By means of the present invention, theproper operation of the latch mechanism will be positively assuredandthe additional labor and loss of time heretofore incident to thenecessity of removing the coagulated paint or varnish `from the parts ofthe latch is entirely obviated. Itvwill also be appreciated thatinview'of the .very simple form and construction of the invention, thedevice can be manufactured at very small cost and therefore will not addmaterially to the eX- pense involved in the equipment of automobile orother doors with the latch mechanism.

I have herein referred to several embodiments of the improved shield orprotector which I have found to be very satisfactory and desirable inpractice, but it will nevertheless be understood that the device issusceptible of many minor modifications and I therefore reserve theprivilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes as may be fairlyembodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A protecting device as described' comprising a hollow body shaped tothe general configuration of the projecting part of a latch bolt when innormal projected position and adapted to cover the same on all sides.

2. A protecting device comprising a hol- -low casing shaped to thegeneral configuraone side to` receive the projectingend of a latch boltandl the Walls of said Inember closely engaging the edge of the doortothereby prevent` `the collection ofl paint upon vthe. surfaces ofthelatch bolt when the door is paintedl and ineans frictionallycofaeting with the latch bolt to hold the shield in its appliedposition. and prevent accidental displacement thereof..`

et.y A shield or protector for the parts of door latches comprising aniember open at one side to vreceive the projecting; end of a latch boltand the Walls of said Inenober closelfyengag'ing the edge of the door tothereby prevent the collection of paint upon 'sarne, one'wall of saidmember being purovided with an extension or Harige, to engage over oneside of the latch casing` and the other Wallsofl said rnernberl closelyengaging the edge face ofthe door adjacent to the latchbolt andpreventing the collection of paint upon the surfaces of the bolt Whenthe door is painted. i

melee@ 6. A, shield or protector for parts of door. latchesconsisting'of a inernber open atv one side to.V receive theL projectingend of lthe latch bolt and completely 'coyer or house the saine, oneWall of said rnernber being provided with an extension or lia-nge toengage over one side of the latchcasing and the other Walls of saidmember closely engiagingr the edge faceof'lthe door adjacent tol thelatch bolt and preventing the; collection of pain upon they surfacesofthe bolt when the dolor is painted,` said member being Jfurtherprovided with means to yieldinejly 3o-act with the latch bplt and holdsaid ilneniber against accidental displacement.

7. A shield or protector of the character described comprising a mexnberopenl at one side` adapted to receive and entirely, enclose` a part ot'a door latch and the edges or' the protector contacting` with the latchcasing closely adjacent to"thejseveral surfaces of the latch part-whereby substantially the'entire surfaceV of the easing may bepaintedin one operation and the collection of peint LEN OTTINGER

